112 replies to this topic

[TeleTom]

Love – House is Not a Motel originally on the 1968 Album Forever Changes

First played at: Liverpool Carling Academy 20th March 2006

Jack sings lead on this cover, played at the Racs very first gig.

This song was written by Love frontman Arthur Lee who recently passed away


Bo Diddley – Who Do You Love originally recorded 1956

First played at: 22nd March 2006, Stage 2 Newcastle

Jack sings lead on this cover

This song was performed as a segue into Raconteurs song 5 on the 5. More on Bo Diddley


Ron Davies – It Ain’t Easy originally on the 1970 album Silent Song Through The Land.

First played at: ABC, Glasgow 21st March 2006

Brendan takes lead vocals for this song.

This song was also covered by David Bowie on his Ziggy Stardust album, with the Raconteurs performing an arrangement more in the style of the Bowie version. This is the first cover to have seen official release being a B-side for Hands (7” #2). Ron Davies


Flamin’ Groovies – Headin’ For The Texas Border originally on 1971 album Flamingo.

First played: Liverpool Carling Academy 20th March 2006

Jack takes lead vocals in this, used as a closing number in the early sets, often features in the encore.

Flamin’ Groovies


Danko Jones – Samuel Sin originally on the 1999 EP My Love Is Bold.

First played: Muffathalle, Munich 27th June 2006 (I think)

Brendan sings lead in this.

Canadian artist Danko Jones also later released this song on the album I’m Alive and on Fire (2001).


Jape - Floating originally on the 2004 album The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me.

First played: 19th July, Soma San Diego

Brendan sings lead in this cover.

Irish artist Jape myspace (bassist for band The Redneck Manifesto)


Gnarls Barkley - Crazy originally on the 2006 album St Elsewhere

First played: 20th July, Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles

Jack sings lead in this cover.

Gnarls Barkley are the duo of DJ Dangermouse and singer/rapper Cee-Lo who made history for being the first UK number one on downloads alone.


Loretta Lynn – Portland, Oregon originally on the 2004 album Van Lear Rose

First played: 25th July, Roseland Theatre, Portland Oregon

Duet – Brendan sings Loretta’s part.

Both Jacks and Patrick played on the original recording as part of Loretta’s backing band ‘the Do Whaters’


Shocking Blue – Send Me A Postcard originally released 1968 as a single

First played: 30th June 2006, Melkweg Amsterdam

Jack sings lead?

Fittingly played to a Dutch audience this song was originally recorded by Dutch Psych-Rock band Shocking Blue. No recording of this song has yet surfaced.


Sonny & Cher– Bang, Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) originally released on the 1966 album The Sonny Side of Cher

First played: 3rd July 2006, Accelerator Festival, Malmo Sweden

Jack sings lead, in earlier performances playing acoustic guitar, later electric.

The Raconteurs play a version more in keeping with the Nancy Sinatra release- used in the film Kill Bill. Sonny & Cher


Stooges – TV Eye originally released on the 1970 album Fun House

First played at: the intro of this song was played at Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor 5th August 2006, The full song was later performed at Reading Festival 26th August 2006.

Jack sings (screams?!) lead on this cover

Iggy Pop was in the audience for the Ann Arbor show, no doubt the inspiration for the tease of the song. The Stooges A full recording of this song hasn't yet surfaced.


Undertones – Teenage Kicks originally released on the 1978 EP Teenage Kicks

First played at: T on the Fringe, Edinburgh 23rd August 2006

Brendan sings lead on this cover

Favourite song of the late John Peel. Undertones


Louvin Brothers – Christian Life originally released on the 1960 album Satan Is Real

First played at: Leeds Festival, 27th August 2006

Little Jack sings the upper harmony, Brendan the lower and Jack White joins on the chorus

Originally by close-harmony country singers the Louvin Brothers.


ZZ Top – Cheap Sunglasses originally released on the 1979 album Degüello.

First played at: MTV VMA awards ??
Jack shares vocals duties with Billy F Gibbons.

Performed with ZZ Top member Billy F Gibbons on guitar and vocals.


Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat originally released on the 1968 album White Light/White Heat

First played at: MTV VMA awards ??
Sung by Lou Reed.

Performed with Velvet Underground member Lou Reed on guitar and vocals.


The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star originally released on the 1980 album The Age of Plastic

First played at: MTV VMA awards ??

Jack and Brendan sing this cover.

Performed with Jim Jarmusch joining on guitar. The lyrics are changed to “Internet Killed the Video Star”. The Buggles



Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
Danko Jones - Samuel Sin
Shocking Blue - Send me a postcard
Love - House is Not a Motel
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Flamin Groovies - Headin' For The Texas Border
Ron Davies - It Aint Easy
Loretta Lynn - Portland, Oregon
Jape - Floating
Bo Diddley – Who Do You Love
Stooges – TV eye
Undertones – Teenage Kicks
Louvin Brothers – The Christian Life
ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses
Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat
The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star (Internet killed the video star)
Howlin Wolf - Evil


This is still work in progress, and I shall endeavour to keep it as up to date as I can.
If anyone can improve the descriptions or has anything to add to this please let me know!
If anyone has web hosting available I could prepare some streaming clips of the Raconteurs versions and the originals for people to listen to.

Edited by TeleTom, 02 December 2006 - 10:20 AM.

[C.F.K.]

ooh I love that song Bang Bang. I only know of it because of Kill Bill. But it was so cool. Maybe we'll get it as a B-Side. It would be interesting to hear some more studio tracks.

Edited by C.F.K., 03 July 2006 - 12:49 AM.

[Jebus]

gee i'd like to hear their version of bang bang

[XCyclone]

bang bang, is definatley a must hear. i hope they play it when i see them in texas

[dannypal]

i cant wait to here these live versions!

[dylanblue]

Looks like the Racs have added some new cover songs to their setlist

Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) This one's on the Kill Bill soundtrack

Danko Jones?? - Samuel Sin not sure about this being a DJ cover, but Danko is a great live act so it'd be nice to think the Racs appreciate em!

Shocking Blue?? - Send me a postcard again not sure of the artist, but it's listed on a setlist- according to wikipedia "Shocking Blue was a Dutch rock band from The Hague that existed from 1967 to 1974"

anyone got any speculation on what else they might cover? How about something using Brendan's keyboard skills, or some proper garage rock, Sonics or something?

It IS a Danko Jones cover and it IS the Shocking Blue song. And Shocking Blue WAS a Dutch band.

So yes, it's all true. Samuel Sin can be found on Danko Jones' I'm Alive and on Fire album. The lyrics were exactly the same, so unless Danko didn't write this himself and covered it, yes it's a Danko cover.

[TeleTom]

all super, I've downloaded the boot of the berlin gig and they kick off with the Samuel Sin cover, I must admit I'm pretty suprised at them covering something contemporary, but I love Danko Jones (seen em 3 times now) so this just makes me happy!

[YayHareKrishna]

That's exciting. I'm kind of secretly hoping that they do Bob Dylan covers, but it will probably anger a lot of diehard stripes loyalists. Still, I'm surprised no rock group has covered "Man in the Long Black Coat" by Dylan.

[Little Cream Soda]

meh^^ i perfer to see jack playing unusal songs, like bang bang, what sort of rock band covers that? and like when TWS covered Mr Cellophane

[4Lifer]

wait...the racs covering danko jones?
aren't they a canadian act, i don't know if this is true. maybe danko jones' version is also a cover

[Tigger]

downloads bang bang and many other bootlegs on www.my-red-boots.de

[alex_b]

it won't let me download just listen...

[rogger]

it won't let me download just listen...

Hi alex b
For this song among others:

try here

courtesy of adeathletter4u

[Treatment]

Right click...save as...and you're away.

I can't wait to listen to this! I've been wantiing the White Stripes to cover this for ages!

[leks]

wait...the racs covering danko jones?
aren't they a canadian act, i don't know if this is true. maybe danko jones' version is also a cover

Danko Jones are indeed Canadian. From Toronto I believe...

[Eat A Pumpkin]

Bang Bang kicked ass live in Cleveland - They played Crazy by Gnarls Barkley too, which was weird, but that was badass as well

[Amber Bottles]

Y'know, Bang Bang was done by Frank Sinatra as well... was he the original person to do it? I have a Sinatra LP that I have yet to listen to titled "She Shot Me Down". An interesting note is that under the song's name on the tracklisting, it lists Sonny Bono's name...

[DeathLetter]

Can one of the moderators pin an "ever growing list of covers" thread that we can add to?

[TeleTom]

I believe Bang Bang was first released by Sonny & Cher (yes that cher) on the album The Sonny Side of Cher (1966) I'll do some more research and update the first post to give a bit of info about all the songs/artists and hopefully get some audio samples up

Think it'd be a good idea if someone collates all the known set-lists into one place a la brokenbricks aswell?

Edited by TeleTom, 15 August 2006 - 04:26 AM.

[Marcel]

I believe Bang Bang was first released by Sonny & Cher (yes that cher) on the album The Sonny Side of Cher (1966) I'll do some more research and update the first post to give a bit of info about all the songs/artists and hopefully get some audio samples up

Think it'd be a good idea if someone collates all the known set-lists into one place a la brokenbricks aswell?

man, it was excruciating waiting for this observation to be made